Page 31 of Finding Home (Willow Valley #1)

THIRTY-ONE

CHLOE

I lie beside Everett, listening to his breathing as he sleeps. His arm is wrapped around me, occasionally tightening as if he’s subconsciously seeing if I’m still here. The fact that he’s doing it without being awake shows me he meant every word of what he said about us being more.

I let my mind wander, and it keeps snagging on telling Lila about Everett and I seeing each other.

I was so fortunate to grow up with both my parents.

I can’t imagine what it’s been like for her trying to navigate life so young without her mom.

I have no idea how she’ll take the news her dad is seeing someone.

I don’t want to replace her mom. The extent of my role in her life isn’t a decision for me to make, that is completely up to Everett and Lila.

I like the role I play now. A friend, someone she can talk to and feel safe with.

I like spending time with her and taking her to see the horses.

I just hope that she can accept Everett’s and my relationship.

I slide out of bed and pad my way downstairs. I throw together something in my slow cooker and turn it on before settling on the couch with my book and a blanket.

Everett eventually joins me, running a hand over his hair as he settles beside me on the couch.

“What smells so good?” he asks.

“I realized that with the exception of the nights I’ve cooked for Lila and left you leftovers, I haven’t cooked for you. I just threw together something in the slow cooker for us to have later.”

I close my book and rotate to lean into his side.

He wraps an arm around me and kisses the top of my head. His fingers work through my hair, and he says, “Tell me something I don’t know about you.”

I hum, deciding what to tell him. I pull my shirt up, exposing my right hip, and run my finger over the scar on my hip.

“I got this when I was young, I think maybe five or six. I wasn’t paying attention around the horses, being loud and running, not respecting their space, and I ran behind a horse.

They kicked back and got me right in the hip.

I was lucky nothing was broken, I got away with some serious bruising and a deep cut.

It’s why when I bring kids around horses I don’t let them ride right away.

I make sure they know the basics of being around them, of taking care of them, before they ever get on the back of one. ”

Everett runs his finger over the raised white skin.

His touch is featherlight as he traces it.

“I noticed this that first night. I noticed how your skin was flawless with the exception of this small scar. I thought it made you unique. I wanted to know the story behind this then. I’m glad you’re telling me now, though.

I like that I can connect it to watching you with the horses now. ”

I smile up at him. “Your turn to tell me something I don’t know.”

“I didn’t always want to be a firefighter.

I was undecided when I graduated high school, and then I saw an ad for training in Calgary and did some research and realized I could make good money so I joined the academy.

Later when Renee told me she was pregnant I had fallen in love with it and it allowed me long periods of time at home with her.

I can’t imagine doing anything else now. ”

“How do you like working in a small town compared to the big city?”

“It’s different. It’s definitely slower, but I also get to see the way the men build rapport with the community. It isn’t just a job to them, it’s helping their community. I like it.”

I snuggle in deeper to his side, hoping that means him and Lila are around for the long haul and he can be happy in Willow Valley, because I’m not sure I could ever leave again.

A little piece of fear niggles its way into my mind about the fact that Everett does work a dangerous job, and I know that even in a small town, there’s no guarantee he’s going to be safe.

I bury that seed of fear, hoping it doesn’t find a way to grow.

Wanting to move past that thought, I say, “I never asked you last night, but what made you go to Incahoots? You’re not one for the social scene.”

“You,” he says. “Colton had mentioned his party and said I should drop by, I didn’t have any intentions to when he first told me, but then you said you were going and I couldn’t stay away, and believe me, I tried.

” He runs a hand down his face as he sighs.

“I tried working out, reading, going for a run, none of it helped. I kept thinking of you with other men, and it had my blood boiling, so I grabbed my keys and drove to the bar. I had no intention of interrupting the way I did, just watching to make sure you were good, and then seeing you laughing and dancing with him. I was moving before I even had a chance to think about it.”

“So possessive,” I tease and sit up, facing him.

“I’m not going to lie and say I hate it, but I do think I need to make it clear that Ryder and Colton are my friends, and I have more male friends.

I love dancing, and I quite enjoy dancing with my friends, so you’re going to need to rein back some of the possessive ‘don’t touch Chloe’ vibes. ”

He stares at me, but I don’t give in.

He sighs. “I’ll try. At least they know now they don’t have a chance and you’re mine.”

“I am.”

He adjusts himself as I lean back, and he starts to hover over me. He kisses me, and I moan into it, loving the way he takes control and makes me feel so desired just with a single kiss.

When I’m flat on the couch, he positions himself between my legs and continues to kiss me. Changing the kisses from strong and possessive to soft and exploring right back to strong and possessive. His hands roam my body, and I take it as license to do the same with him.

My hands reach under the hem of his shirt as my fingers dust over his abs and then around to his back, where I scratch at him, a possessiveness of my own coming out to play, a want to leave marks on him.

I break the kiss and trail my lips down his neck, finding the perfect spot, and I kiss and suck at it, smiling to myself at the love bite I leave behind.

I scratch at his back again, and he groans.

“If you’re going to leave marks like that, at least let me earn them with my cock buried in your pussy.”

“Yes,” I moan in a voice that sounds so needy I’d be embarrassed if it wasn’t for the fact that Everett is pressing his erection into my leg, showing me just how much he wants me.

He reaches into the pocket of his sweats and pulls out a condom, ripping it open and shoving his pants below his ass, just enough for his erection to pop free and for him to roll on the condom.

I spread my legs, ensuring he has enough room, and he positions himself at my entrance and pushes forward in one strong thrust. I scratch at his back as mine arches and my eyes close, relishing in the way he feels inside me.

He kisses me as I rake over his skin, knowing I’m leaving marks.

He takes his time with me, kissing me and trailing his lips across my skin as he slowly fucks me.

It doesn’t feel like he’s fucking me, though, it feels like he’s making love to me.

This isn’t some carnal need to get off, but rather a need to be close to one another. To be intimate.

I’m not sure if that excites or scares me more.

We’ve only known each other for such a short period of time, but this innate need to be close to him, to have him touch me and to be touching him is strong. The way his hands and lips roam and he whispers my name against my skin has my orgasm building.

I feel like I’m on cloud nine, each time my name leaves his lips in a whispered plea as my nails scratch at him, I nip his ear, or I circle my hips.

“I’m close,” I moan and seal my lips to his.

He absorbs my moans with his kiss, and as my orgasm begins to subside, I feel his tear through him, igniting another of mine. By the time we’ve both come down from our highs, we’re panting.

Everett hovers over me, running his hand over my hair, just looking at me. It’s like he can see into my soul, and for some reason, that does scare me.

I force a teasing smirk onto my lips and say, “I told you I’d let you fuck me in this shirt.”

He grins back, but it’s not like his usual grin, it’s unsure, and I worry that maybe we’ve both jumped feet first into this a little too quickly.